masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgTORONTO -The Orioles just came off the field. Their workout is done.
As Matt Wieters’ second home run ball yesterday sailed into the left field seats at Yankee Stadium, squeezing inside the foul pole, closer Zach Britton was struck with two thoughts.
Wieters homered from both sides of the plate for the first time in his major league career. It might have been his last regular season game as an Oriole.
Opposite emotions for Britton slamming together after a pair of two-run shots.
“It actually…

TORONTO -The Orioles just came off the field. Their workout is done.

As Matt Wieters’ second home run ball yesterday sailed into the left field seats at Yankee Stadium, squeezing inside the foul pole, closer Zach Britton was struck with two thoughts.

Wieters homered from both sides of the plate for the first time in his major league career. It might have been his last regular season game as an Oriole.

Opposite emotions for Britton slamming together after a pair of two-run shots.

“It actually crossed my mind,” he said. “I was down there in the bullpen and after the second one I was like, ‘Wow, if that was your last regular season game as an Oriole, that’s pretty impressive to hit a home run from both sides of the plate.’

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“I remember one of his first games in our organization, in the minors, I think it was in Frederick, he hit a home run from both sides of the plate and I happened to just think about that. I was like, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ I was around when that happened, so I thought it was a fitting note for him after everything he’s done for us.”

Britton’s memory can be trusted. Wieters confirmed that he homered from both sides while playing for the Single-A Keys in 2008.

Wieters said Lynchburg was the opponent, a Pirates affiliate, and he joked that he figured it always would be that easy.

Nothing has come easily to the Orioles, who didn’t clinch a playoff berth until their 162nd game.

“It’s a little bit of a weight off your shoulders as a team,” Britton said. “We know we’re in and we have a chance to play an important game tomorrow. Obviously, it’s a do-or-die situation, but it’s nice to know we’re one of the few teams still playing.”

Playing so many close games down the stretch could prove beneficial against a team the Orioles are playing for the 20th time this year.

“I think it helps,” Britton said. “Obviously, you don’t want to have your back against the wall the last part of the season like we did, but we came through it. We came out on top and we have an opportunity to play this team that we played a lot during the regular season, so I think that helps.

“We’re very familiar with this team. We’ve been to this stadium when it’s sold out many times, so this isn’t anything new for us. I think it gives us maybe a little bit of comfort coming in, knowing what to expect, but it’s going to be a grind and I think we’re just going to take the same mentality that we’ve had throughout the course of the season.”

Britton may not have the exact same role. He’s still the closer, of course, but manager Buck Showalter used him yesterday to get the last five outs and there could be more multiple-inning outings in his immediate future, depending how far the Orioles can advance.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Britton said. “Buck, Dave (Wallace) and Dom (Chiti) told me, ‘Hey, be ready for two innings at any point,’ and that’s fine. I’ve done it before and it’s not something I’m against. I’m just ready. I know everybody down there has the same mindset. We’re ready for anything at this point in the season.

“Roles are roles until there aren’t any roles, right? Anything is up in the air depending on the flow of the game, so just be ready when your number is called.”

In an odd twist, the pitching carried the Orioles over the final month while the offense struggled to score runs.

“I think in years past you kind of see that offenses at times go down a little bit as the season wears on and guys have a ton of at-bats under their belt,” Britton said. “Pitching kind of rises to the top a little bit. So, the close games weren’t a surprise. It’s just a matter of understanding that was going to be the case as a pitching staff.

“The starters did an unbelievable job and the bullpen, we were able to do our job for the most part. I think we had some hiccups here and there, but the starting staff as a whole did a great job through the month of September.”